CORROBBOREES, OR NATIVE DANCES
Among the special delights of an aboriginal boy or girl is the memory of
the first corrobboree he was ever allowed to see. These corrobborees are
very elaborate and curious native dances nearly always performed at
night. The women and children are allowed to witness them but only the
men actually take part. The black men who live on or near the stations
often speak of these as "Debbil-debbil dances," as they are supposed to
have some relation to the evil spirits, or "debbil-debbils," of whom the
blacks are so terribly afraid.
It takes a long while to dress the men up for these dances. Often they
are first pricked all over with sharp stones to make the blood flow, and
this blood is then smeared all over their faces and bodies. Little tufts
of white cockatoo or eagle hawk down are then stuck all over them, the
blood being used as gum. If the doings of some mythical emu ancestor are
to be celebrated in the dance only men belonging to the emu totem group
will be allowed to perform. An enormous head-dress of down and feathers
will next be made and put on, and large anklets of fresh green leaves
will complete the array.
A large space will be specially prepared as the ceremonial ground. In
front of this huge fires will usually be lighted, and either in front of
these, or at the sides, a number of women and older girls will be seated
with kangaroo skins drawn tightly across their knees. On these skins
they beat with sticks or with their hands, making a noise similar to
that which would be made by a number of kettle-drums. All the time the
dancing is going on the women keep up a weird, monotonous chant, often
beginning on a high key and dying down almost to a whisper. It is not
very musical to our ears but the effect is often very strange and
wonderful. It sometimes sounds as though a number of singers were
gradually coming towards one from afar, then standing still awhile, then
turning round and going back again.
One of the performers will come out upon the stage, go through a few
curious antics which he calls a dance, then retire whilst another takes
his place. After a while, perhaps, all will come on together and the fun
for a time will be very fast and furious. The blacks are all so very
serious about it, but any white people who happened to be looking on
would find it very difficult to restrain their laughter. It would not do
to laugh though, as the "debbil-debbils" would be very angry and might
revenge themselves upon the blacks before long. After they have been
dancing for some time the men present a very curious sight. The
perspiration which has been pouring down their faces and bodies has
disarranged their paint and feathers and their head-dresses have got
very much awry. Perhaps, too, they have grown almost dizzy with
excitement, so that they certainly look more ludicrous than impressive.
They greatly enjoy these corrobborees and get wildly excited about them,
but to us they would appear very monotonous and wearisome. To them, too,
they are very full of meaning and they are one of the chief ways in
which the young people are taught the legends of their tribes. Sometimes
very useful moral lessons are taught by their means. An old man will
very likely sit in the centre of a group of boys and carefully explain
to them the meaning of all they see. They frequently last for hours, and
some of them even require three or four nights if they are to be
properly performed, so that the blackfellows spend a very great deal of
time in preparing for and performing them.
Some of these corrobborees no women and young children are allowed to
see. When this is the case a peculiar piece of sacred stone with a hole
in the end, through which a string is fastened, is swung round and round
by one of the men. As it is swung it makes a loud booming sound. This
instrument is called a Bullroarer, and is looked upon as a very sacred
thing. The women and girls are taught that the noise it makes is the
voice of the evil spirit to whom it is sacred, warning them to hurry
away and not dare to look at the sacred ceremonies which are about to be
performed. If any of them disregarded the warning their eyes would
certainly be put out, and they might even be put to death.
When a friendly tribe, or group of natives, is visiting another tribe
they will often be entertained by a corrobboree. On such an occasion the
most difficult and elaborate of all their dances will most probably be
performed. The next night the visitors will provide the entertainment.
Though there is very little idea of religion among the people, as you
will see in later chapters, yet these dances have something of a
religious character about them. They keep alive the old tribal legends,
and the blacks most firmly believe that the spirits of their old
ancestors are pleased when corrobborees are properly performed. On the
other hand they are grievously offended if anything is done carelessly
and without proper thought.